Forced marriage is Australia’s most reported form of modern slavery.
Project summary
Globally, forced marriage is a big problem. It’s been estimated that, on any given day in 2021, 22 million people across the world were living in situations of forced marriage. Women and girls make up almost three quarters of this figure. Australia is not immune – since its criminalisation in 2013, forced marriage has risen to become Australia’s most reported form of modern slavery. It is an issue that cuts across cultures, religions and socio-economic groups.
A growing global movement over the past decade recognises forced marriage as a breach of human rights, a form of family and domestic violence (FDV) and, overwhelmingly, as a form of gender-based violence.
The impacts of forced marriage on individuals, families and communities are often devastating, and lifelong. For this reason, it is important to raise awareness of the issue, people’s rights, and the supports that are available – and where possible, to prevent forced marriages from happening at all. This is what motivated the creation of the UTS-based forced marriage project known as ‘Speak Now’.
A dedicated team within Anti-Slavery Australia, an initiative of the UTS Law Faculty, is taking a multipronged approach to this issue: conducting pioneering research into forced marriage, working to raise awareness, and developing resources for those directly at risk. A significant focus of the project is developing resources for those in the best position to identify, respond and support those affected. To that end, this project engages with, educates, and builds the capacity of frontline workers across a range of community-facing professions (such as law enforcement, health, education, FDV, and youth and social services). A specialist Guide has been created for frontline workers, which is free and publicly available. It contains a set of research-informed principles to guide users through different situations and contexts in which forced marriage may occur. The Guide provides information on:
What forced marriage is in its social and legal context
Distinguishing forced marriage from other types of marriage
How forced marriage intersects with other forms of gender-based violence
Common misconceptions about forced marriage in Australia
Common underlying drivers of forced marriage
Good practice principles when identifying and responding to forced marriage
Recognising when a situation is time-sensitive, and may raise safety concerns
Coordinating and referring people affected by forced marriage to appropriate support
- Key referral agencies for people affected by forced marriage in Australia.
The ‘Speak Now’ team is going on a National Tour across all states and territories in order to deliver specialist training on forced marriage, face-to-face with frontline workers.
For more information see the Anti-Slavery Australia website.
Project timeframe
2022 - 2024
SDG targets addressed by this project
Gender equality:
5.1 - End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.
5.2 - Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
5.3 - Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation.
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Professor, Anti-Slavery Australia
